BEMER Electromagnetic Field Therapy Reduces Cancer Cell Radioresistance by Enhanced ROS Formation and Induced DNA Damage.

PloS one · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4812

In 3D matrix-based cell culture models using cancer cell lines from lung, head and neck, colorectal, and pancreas, BEMER low-frequency pulsed EMF exposure was associated with enhanced radiosensitization versus controls, along with increased DNA double-strand …

Study snapshot

PublicationPloS one · 2016

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Each year more than 450,000 Germans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer subsequently receiving standard multimodal therapies including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. On top, molecular-targeted agents are increasingly administered. Owing to intrinsic and acquired resistance to these therapeutic approaches, both the better molecular understanding of tumor biology and the consideration of alternative and complementary therapeutic support are warranted and open up broader and novel possibilities for therapy personalization. Particularly the latter is underpinned by the increasing utilization of non-invasive complementary and alternative medicine by the population. One investigated approach is the application of low-dose electromagnetic fields (EMF) to modulate cellular processes. A particular system is the BEMER therapy as a Physical Vascular Therapy for which a normalization of the microcirculation has been demonstrated by a low-frequency, pulsed EMF pattern. Open remains whether this EMF pattern impacts on cancer cell survival upon treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and the molecular-targeted agent Cetuximab inhibiting the epidermal growth factor receptor. Using more physiological, three-dimensional, matrix-based cell culture models and cancer cell lines originating from lung, head and neck, colorectal and pancreas, we show significant changes in distinct intermediates of the glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways and enhanced cancer cell radiosensitization associated with increased DNA double strand break numbers and higher levels of reactive oxygen species upon BEMER treatment relative to controls. Intriguingly, exposure of cells to the BEMER EMF pattern failed to result in sensitization to chemotherapy and Cetuximab. Further studies are necessary to better understand the mechanisms underlying the cellular alterations induced by the BEMER EMF pattern and to clarify the application areas for human disease.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Cancer cell radiosensitization/radioresistance
DNA double strand breaks
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels
Metabolic intermediates (glycolysis and TCA cycle)
Sensitization to chemotherapy
Sensitization to cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor)

Limitations

In vitro study using cell culture models; human clinical relevance not established in the abstract
Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, intensity, duration) not specified in the abstract
No sample sizes or quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "BEMER therapy (low-frequency, pulsed EMF pattern)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cancer cell radiosensitization/radioresistance",
    "DNA double strand breaks",
    "Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels",
    "Metabolic intermediates (glycolysis and TCA cycle)",
    "Sensitization to chemotherapy",
    "Sensitization to cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 3D matrix-based cell culture models using cancer cell lines from lung, head and neck, colorectal, and pancreas, BEMER low-frequency pulsed EMF exposure was associated with enhanced radiosensitization versus controls, along with increased DNA double-strand break numbers and higher ROS levels. The EMF pattern did not sensitize cells to chemotherapy or to cetuximab.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study using cell culture models; human clinical relevance not established in the abstract",
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, intensity, duration) not specified in the abstract",
    "No sample sizes or quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "BEMER",
    "electromagnetic field therapy",
    "low-frequency pulsed EMF",
    "cancer cells",
    "radiosensitization",
    "radioresistance",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "DNA double strand breaks",
    "glycolysis",
    "tricarboxylic acid cycle",
    "chemotherapy",
    "cetuximab"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167931
PubMed: 27959944

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